[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31295-31296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12770]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Economic Research Service


Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implementing regulations, this 
notice announces the Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to 
request renewal of approval for an annual information collection on 
supplemental food security questions in the Current Population Survey 
(CPS), commencing with the December 2013 survey. These data will be 
used: to monitor household-level food security and food insecurity in 
the United States; to assess food security and changes in food security 
for population subgroups; to assess the need for, and performance of, 
domestic food assistance programs; to improve the measurement of food 
security; and to provide information to aid in public policy decision 
making.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 24, 2012 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Mark Nord, 
Food Assistance Branch, Food Economics Division, Economic Research 
Service, Room 5-232, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Mail Stop 1800, 
Washington, DC 20050-1800. Submit electronic comments to 
[email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and 
follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Nord at the address in the 
preamble. Tel. 202-694-5433.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement.
    OMB Number: 0536-0043.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2012.
    Type of Request: Intent To Seek Approval To Extend an Information 
Collection for 3 Years.
    Abstract: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(Pub. L. 104-13) and OMB regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, 
August 29, 1995), this notice announces the ERS intention to request 
renewal of approval for an annual information collection. The U.S. 
Census Bureau will supplement the December CPS, beginning in 2013, with 
questions regarding household food shopping, use of food and nutrition 
assistance programs, food sufficiency, and difficulties in meeting 
household food needs. A similar supplement has been appended to the CPS 
annually since 1995. The last collection was in December 2011.
    ERS is responsible for conducting studies and evaluations of the 
Nation's food and nutrition assistance programs that are administered 
by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture. The Department currently spends about $103 billion each 
year to ensure access to nutritious, healthful diets for all Americans. 
The Food and Nutrition Service administers the 15 food assistance 
programs of the USDA including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program, the National 
School Lunch Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program 
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These programs, which serve 1 
in 4 Americans, represent our Nation's commitment to the principle that 
no one in our country should lack the food needed for an active, 
healthy life. They provide a safety net to people in need. The 
programs' goals are to provide needy persons with access to a more 
nutritious diet, to improve the eating habits of the Nation's children, 
and to help America's farmers by providing an outlet for the 
distribution of food purchased under farmer assistance authorities.
    The data collected by the food security supplement will be used to 
monitor the prevalence of food security and the prevalence and severity 
of food insecurity among the Nation's households. The prevalence of 
these conditions as well as year-to-year trends in their prevalence 
will be estimated at the national level and for population subgroups. 
The data will also be used to monitor the amounts that households spend 
for food and their use of community food pantries and emergency 
kitchens. These statistics along with research based on the data will 
be used to identify the causes and consequences of food insecurity, and 
to assess the need for, and performance of, domestic food assistance 
programs. The data will also be used to improve the measurement of food 
security and to develop measures of additional aspects and dimensions 
of food security. This consistent measurement of the extent and 
severity of food insecurity will aid in policy decision-making.
    The supplemental survey instrument was developed in conjunction 
with food security experts nationwide as well as survey method experts 
within the Census Bureau and was reviewed in 2006 by the Committee on 
National Statistics of the National Research Council. This supplemental 
information will be collected by both personal visit and telephone 
interviews in conjunction with the regular monthly CPS interviewing. 
Interviews will be conducted using Computer Assisted Personal Interview 
(CAPI) and Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) methods.

    Authority: Legislative authority for the planned data collection 
are 7 U.S.C. 2204(a) and 7 U.S.C. 2026(a)(1) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008. This latter section authorizes the Secretary 
to enter into contracts with private and public institutions to 
collect data to undertake research that would improve the 
administration and effectiveness of the SNAP in delivering 
nutrition-related benefits.

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this data 
collection is estimated to average 7.7 minutes (after rounding) for 
each household that responds to the labor force portion of the CPS. The 
estimate is based on the number of households that were asked each 
question in recent survey years and typical reading and response times 
for the questions.
    Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 53,935.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,927 hours. Copies 
of this information collection can be obtained from Mark Nord at the 
address in the preamble.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of

[[Page 31296]]

information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Comments should be sent to the address in the preamble. All responses 
to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, May 7, 2012.
Mary Bohman,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-12770 Filed 5-24-12; 8:45 am]
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